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Locals weigh in on Transportation Master Plan

A consultant hired to review and update the city's Transportation Master Plan will have a fair amount of community input to refine information and ideas before a second open house.

A public open house, held Tuesday at city hall, resulted in about 70 Sault Ste. Marie residents attending and providing information on Sault Ste. Marie's transportation system, said Carl Rumiel, the city's design and construction engineer.

Agencies like the Ministry of Transportation and Algoma Public Health, along with interest groups, such as Sault Cyclists and trails advocates, also attended.

“This was more of a fact-finding mission. Participants were able to visit and say their peace and that information will be reviewed and looked at,” Rumiel said.

The last review of the city's Transportation Master Plan led to the creation of the Carmen's Way designated truck route as a method of diverting transports away from the downtown corridor.

While this review is not expected to result in any drastic changes to the city's transportation system, it is appropriate to review and update the plan every decade, taking into account potential issues like changes in population, traffic patterns and city growth.

The relocation of Sault Area Hospital, the growth of big box stores north of Second Line on Great Northern Road, the new high school and planned new Catholic high school, have all resulted in changed traffic patterns at the north end of the city.

Rumiel said that there were several themes that emerged from the session.

Saultites want to see the development of active transportation routes for cyclists and pedestrians, there is a perceived congestion in the Great Northern Road corridor that needs to be better dealt with by finding alternatives to the bottleneck areas, and residents questioned the link of Highway 17 to Black Road.

Saultites who were unable to make the meeting can complete surveys found on the city's website until Dec. 15.

A second open house will be scheduled some time in the spring.

That open house will refine the information collected and focus in on areas like congested traffic area, how streets intersect and the potential to establish other transportation tools like roundabouts, pedestrian crossings and dedicated cycling lanes.

The Transportation Master Plan guides the development of the city's long-term transportation network in compliance with the provincial policy statement and the city's Official Plan.

Stage 1 assess the current state of transportation and identifies short-term and quick-implementation solutions and Stage 2 will identify the transportation infrastructure needs and timing to accommodate planned growth in the city.